verb
B1
Intermediate
doze
dohz
Doze (verb) means to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap. Example: “He dozed off in front of the TV.”
verb
1
To sleep lightly for a short time; to nap.
"He dozed off in front of the TV."
"She dozed for twenty minutes on the train."
noun
1
A short, light sleep.
"I had a little doze after lunch."
How to use doze
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fall into a light, brief sleep, often without meaning to.
Common pairings
doze off
have a doze
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Word forms
- Plural
- dozes
- Third person singular
- dozes
- Past tense
- dozed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ off in front of the TV.
Etymology
From Old Norse dúsa, "to doze, rest" — related to the word "dizzy."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for doze
See all rhymes for doze →Frequently asked questions
What does “doze” mean?
The word “doze” means to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap. In plain terms, to fall into a light, brief sleep, often without meaning to.
How do you pronounce “doze”?
“Doze” is pronounced dohz (/doʊz/ in IPA).
How do you use “doze” in a sentence?
Here is “doze” used in a sentence: “He dozed off in front of the TV.”
What part of speech is “doze”?
Depending on how it is used, “doze” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “doze” come from?
The word “doze” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse dúsa, "to doze, rest" — related to the word "dizzy.".
How many meanings does “doze” have?
“Doze” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap.
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